Upper eyelid surgery
Over the years, the skin of the upper eyelid can start to droop. Your eyes look tired, and sometimes the skin rests on your eyelashes. In upper eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), I remove the excess skin, often together with a little fat.
Where:Velthuis Kliniek Rozendaal
At a glance
- Duration
- About 1 hour
- Anaesthesia
- Local
- Hospital stay
- Outpatient, home straight away
- Back to work
- After about 1 week
- Exercise
- After 2 to 3 weeks
Who is it for?
- The skin of your upper eyelid hangs over your eyelashes
- Your eyes look tired, even when you are well rested
- Drooping eyelids limit your field of vision
The procedure
The procedure is done under local anaesthetic and takes about an hour.
I remove a strip of skin and, if needed, a little fat. The scar lies exactly in the natural crease of the eyelid.
Recovery, step by step
First few days
Swelling and bruising. Cooling helps. Sleep with your head slightly raised.
Days 5 to 7
The stitches are removed.
Weeks 2 to 3
Most of the swelling has gone. You can wear make-up again.
After 3 months
The scar is barely visible.
This is a general guide. We will discuss your own recovery time in the consultation.
Risks and complications
Care matters in every surgical treatment. Complications cannot always be prevented, but we do everything we can to keep the risks as small as possible.
In the consultation I take the time to explain what you can expect from the treatment and which risks may be involved. That way you can make a well-informed, confident choice that is right for you.
- Bleeding after the operation or bruising
- Wound infection
- Slow wound healing
- Scars that stay thick or red
- Temporarily dry or watery eyes
- Slight asymmetry
You can also read the official information from the Dutch Society for Plastic Surgery (NVPC). It is only available in Dutch:
In the consultation I always explain this further, in English if you prefer.
Insurance cover
If drooping eyelids clearly limit your field of vision, the correction may be covered by the Dutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering). This often requires a visual field test and approval in advance.
Frequently asked questions
Does it hurt?
The local anaesthetic stings briefly. After that you feel no pain during the procedure. Afterwards, an ordinary painkiller is usually enough.
A good conversation is the first step.
In the consultation I take the time to answer your questions. You go home with honest advice and no obligation.